Saturday, 7 December 2019

Peasant farmers cry to gov’t for urgent loans and other interventions

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December 07, 2019

Adnan Adams
Mohammed

The Association of Peasant farmers in the
country has called on the government for urgent interventions to help them in
securing loans and market accessibility for their produces as they claim the
Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) hesitates in granting their loan requests
once they notice they are farmers.

Charles Nyaaba, programs manager for the
Peasant Farmers laments that, farmers go through a major struggle in securing
loans from banks, even from mandated once such as ADB, which’s core mandate is
to assist farmers with loans in order to stimulate the growth of agriculture in
the country.

Again, the farmers want the government to show
commitment to its intention to ban rice importation by 2022 as announced by the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture aimed at strengthening local rice farmers to
produce for domestic consumption and export.

“Once you mention you’re a farmer, ADB is
hesitant to give you a loan. We tried it and it never materialised,” Mr Nyaaba
said during radio interview in Accra, last week.

He urged government to help farmers mechanise
their work in order to enhance yield.

“Years ago, when you talk of peasant farmers we
used to use cutlasses and hoes under the sun but majority are better off than
before because of technology. Peasant farmers in the past used to plant to eat
but now many produce to sell as well.

“Planting for food & jobs, good weather
condition & the modernization that came with improved seeds &
weedicides have contributed to the development of the economic. We need a
complete mechanization Centre that can process our produce”.

Meanwhile, the 2009 National Best Farmer, Davis
Narh said, local farmers must be helped with branding of their produce in order
to make them competitive.

the “We need to look at branding as farmers and
increase our marketing drive as well. We should remain competitive. It is time
we add value to our products as farmers also. The government need to support in
this regard. A lot more can be done to support farmers and train them so they
can remain competitive”.